'Modern Fable' a Klein showcase for talented kids

Phyllis A.S. Boros

Published 5:28 pm, Thursday, April 24, 2014

Rehearsals for "A Modern Fable" take place on a recent weekday at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. More than 100 students will participate in the family show on Friday, April 25, at the Bridgeport theater. Admission is free.
Photo: Contributed Photo, Contributed Photo

Rehearsals for "A Modern Fable" take place on a recent weekday at...

Rehearsals for "A Modern Fable" take place on a recent weekday at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. More than 100 students will participate in the family show on Friday, April 25. Above, participants work on stage props.
Photo: Contributed Photo, Contributed Photo

Rehearsals for "A Modern Fable" take place on a recent weekday at...

Rehearsals for "A Modern Fable" take place on a recent weekday at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. More than 100 students will participate in the family show on Friday, April 25 in Bridgeport. Above, singer Benedicte Kalala rehearses. Admission is free.
Photo: Contributed Photo, Contributed Photo

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When a joy of learning and a spirit of adventure spreads through a group of teens, it's amazing what can be accomplished in a relatively short period.

Cara Bertini, director of development at the municipally owned Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport, knows about such things first hand.

As program director for the new ASK/After School at the Klein program, Bertini said the inaugural season has been very successful, involving about 75 students in weekday arts programs, which are free and open to Bridgeport students. Another 25 music students, from the KEYS at the Klein and KEYS Orchestra, participate on Saturdays.

"This first year of education at The Klein was a great success. Our programs reached over 100 Bridgeport students, all of whom have grown as artists and people through their study of arts. Another positive outcome is that students and families from across the city have come to feel at home at The Klein, and feel they have a stake in this valuable cultural resource," Bertini said.

To celebrate, the Klein will host "A Modern Fable," a free multimedia show, on Friday night, April 25.

"It's been so rewarding seeing the kids studying and practicing ... and getting better and better" at their new skills, Bertini said. "We have some really talented kids here.

"The production will be the culmination of their hard work throughout the year -- and for many of them, this will be their first time performing on stage," she explained.

"A Modern Fable" revolves around a Bridgeport student "who gets a bit too caught up in the video games he plays -- with some surprising results," Bertini said.

The multimedia show will feature performances by the KEYS string and brass ensembles, as well as those by ASK's classes in voice, acting, dance, Shakespeare and video production.

"We are in the process of securing funds for next year's education programs. We will continue the ASK and KEYS instrument lesson programs, and may add another program as well. The goal is to enroll 120 students across all our education programs," Bertini said, noting that this year's funding of $250,000 came from various sources (the bulk of which was provided by Bridgeport Public Schools).

Bertini said that so eager are many of the students to put on their performance that they showed up last week (during school vacation) for their own rehearsals or to watch their friends rehearse. They have "a real sense of ownership" in this program -- "and that's great."